CIVIL
EVIDENCE TRIAL MANUAL
FOR TEXAS LAWYERS
Murl A. Larkin
,Professor Emeritus of Law
Texas Tech University
School of Law
D
gg
ButteOilfQ11h Legal Publishers
Ausd.il; Texas
CIV.
~.
TRIAL MANUAL lalUe 8 (1991)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INDEXES .......................................................................... ix
RULE LOCATOR ................................................................... xiii
ADMISSIONS BY PARTY-OPPONENT NOT HEARSAY ................................... 1
AMENDMENT OF RULES ........................................................... 11
APPLICABILITY OF RULES ................................. • ... .... ...... •.. ........ 3
AUDIT, REPORTS OF ..................... .... ..............................•....... 5b
AUTHENTICATION OR IDENTIFICATION, EXAMPLES .................................. 7
AUTHENTICATION OR IDENTIFICATION, SUFFICIENCY OF SHOWING OF . . . . . . . . . . . . •. 19b
AUTHENTICATION, WITHOUT EXTRINSIC EVIDENCE, EXAMPLES ................. . ... 23
BEST EVIDENCE RULE ...... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . .. 33
BIAS OR IN1EREST OF WITNESSES, TO IMPEACH. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 45
BOLSTERING CREDffiILITY OF UNIMPEACHED WI1NESS ............................. 49
CHARACTER EVIDENCE TO IMPEACH OR SUPPORT CREDffiILITY ..................... 51
CHARACTER EVIDENCE TO PROVE CONDucr ... . . .... ................. . ............ 55
CHARACTER, PROOF OF BY EVIDENCE OF REPUTATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 59
CHARACTER, PROOF OF BY OPINION EVIDENCE ............ '. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 63
CHARACTER, PROOF OF BY SPECIFIC INSTANCES OF CONDucr . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 65
COMMENT UPON EVIDENCE BY JUDGE ............................................. 67
COMPETENCY OF WITNESSES .................................................•.... 71
COMPROMISE AND OFFER TO COMPROMISE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . • • . . . . . . .. 75
CONDUCT, SPECIFIC INSTANCES OF, TO IMPEACH OR SUPPORT CREDffiILITY . . . . . . . . .. 79
CONSTRUCTION OF RULES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 83
CONVICTION OF CRIME, TO IMPEACH. . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 85
CREDffiILITY OF HEARSAY DECLARANT, ATTACKING AND SUPPORTING ........ .... .. 93
CROSS-EXAMINATION, SCOPE OF ......................... .... .............. . .•..... 95
DEAD MAN'S STATUTE ...................................................•........ 99
DEPOSmONS, OBJECTIONS TO TESTIMONY GIVEN ............• •. .........••...• •. . 101
DEPOSmONS, USE OF IN COURT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . • • . . . .. 103
EXAMINATION OF WITNESSES, MODE AND ORDER OF .............................. 107
EXCLUSIONOFWITNESSES ....................................................... 111
EXPERT WI1NESSES, APPOINTMENT BY COURT .................................... 115
HABIT, EVIDENCE OF .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 117
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HEARSAY (GENERAL RULE) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 121
HEARSAY EXCEPTIONS, THEN EXISTING MENTAL, SMOTIONAL, OR
HEARSAY, DEFINITIONS .......................................................... 123
PHYSICAL CONDmON .....................................................••. 233
HEARSAY, PROBATIVE VALUE WHEN ADMITfED WITIIOUT OBJECTION. . . . . . . . . . . . .. 135
HEARSAY WITIIIN HEARSAY ..............................•.....................•• 237
HEARSAY EXCEPTIONS, ABSENCE OF BUSINESS ENTRY ............. . . ... .. . . . .... .. 137
HYPNOTICALLY REFRESHED RECOLLECTION, TESTIMONY BASED ON .•.......•.•... 239
HEARSAY EXCEPTIONS, ABSENCE OF PUBLIC RECORD OR ENTRY ................... 139
HEARSAY EXCEPTIONS, ADMISSmLE .............................................. 143
INTERPRETERS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . • . . . . . . • . .. 241
HEARSAY EXCEPTIONS, AFFIDAVIT CONCERNING COST AND
NECESSITY OF SERVICES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 145
JUDGE, COMPE1ENCY AS WI1NESS .......................•.....•...••..•....•..... 245
HEARSAY EXCEPTIONS, BUSINESS ENTRIES ........................................ 147
JUDICIAL NOTICE OF ADJUDICATIVE FACTS ........................................ 247
HEARSAY EXCEPTIONS, DEFINITION OF UNAVAILABll..ITY OF DECLARANT. . . . . . . . . .. 157
JUDICIAL NOTICE OF LAW OF FOREIGN COUN1RIES ..•...........•......•.......... 253
HEARSAY EXCEPTIONS, DYING DECLARATION ..................................... 161
JUDICIAL NOTICE OF LAW OF OTHER UNI1ED STATES JURISDICTIONS ..•.......•.... 255
HEARSAY EXCEPTIONS, EXCEPTIONS NOT SPECIFICALLY COVERED ................. 165
JUDICIAL NOTICE OF ORDINANCES AND REGULATIONS. . . . . • . . . • . • . . . . • . . . . . • . . . . .. 257
HEARSAY EXCEPTIONS, EXCITED UTIERANCE ..................................... 171
JUROR, COMPETENCY AS WI1NESS ..................................•....••..•.... 259
HEARSAY EXCEPTIONS, FAMILY RECORDS ......................................... 175
JUVENILE ADJUDICATION, TO IMPEACH ........................................... 263
HEARSAYEXCEPTIONS,FORMER 1ESTIMONY ...................................... 177
HEARSAY EXCEPTIONS, JUDGMENT AS TO PERSONAL, FAMILY, OR GENERAL
mSTORY, OR BOUNDARIES .................................................... 181
HEARSAY EXCEPTIONS, JUDGMENT OF PREVIOUS CONVICTION ..................... 183
LEADING QUESTIONS .......................................•...................•• 265
LIABll..ITY INSURANCE, EVIDENCE OF .....................................•....... 267
LIMITED ADMISSmll..ITY ..........................................•.............. 269b
HEARSAY EXCEPTIONS, LEARNED 1REATISES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 185
HEARSAY EXCEPTIONS, MARKET REPORTS AND COMMERCIAL PUBLICATIONS. . . . . .. 187
MA1ERIALITY, DEFINITION OF .............................•.....•.•.••........... 271
HEARSAY EXCEPTIONS, MARRIAGE, BAPTISMAL, AND SIMILAR CERTIFICA1ES . . . . . .. 189
MEDICAL AND SIMILAR EXPENSES, PAYMENT OF ........•......................... 273
HEARSAY EXCEPTIONS, PRESENT SENSE IMPRESSION .............................. 191
HEARSAY EXCEPTIONS, PUBLIC RECORDS AND REPORTS ........................... 193
NOTIFICATION OF DEFECT IN PRODUCT ........................................... . 275
HEARSAY EXCEPTIONS, RECORDED RECOLLECTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 199
HEARSAY EXCEPTIONS, RECORDS OF DOCUMENTS AFFECTING
OATH OR AFFIRMATION FOR WI1NESSES .......................................... 277
AN INTEREST IN PROPERTY ................................................... 203
OBJECTIONS ...............................................................•..... 279
HEARSAY EXCEPTIONS, RECORDS OF RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS .................. 205
OFFER OF PROOF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . .. 283
HEARSAY EXCEPTIONS, RECORDS OF VITAL STATISTICS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 207
OPENING THE DOOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . .. 287
HEARSAY EXCEPTIONS, REPUTATION AS TO CHARAC1ER .......................•... 209
OPINION TESTIMONY, BASES FOR BY EXPERT ................................... '" 291
HEARSAY EXCEPTIONS, REPUTATION CONCERNING BOUNDARIES
OR GENERAL mSTORY ...................................................•.... 211
HEARSAY EXCEPTIONS, REPUTATION CONCERNING PERSONAL
OPINION TESTIMONY, DISCLOSURE OF FACTS OR DATA UNDERLYING .... . .......... 297
OPINION 1ESTIMONY, EXPERT WITNESSES ..•...................................•.. 301
OPINION TESTIMONY, LAY WI1NESSES ..................•......................... 303
ORFAMILymSTORY ......................................................... 213
OPINIONTESTIMONY,ONULTIMA1EISSUE ........................................ 307
HEARSAY EXCEPTIONS, STA1EMENT AGAINST INTEREST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 215
OTHER CRIMES, WRONGS, OR ACTS TO PROVE CONDUCT .............•.......•..... 317
HEARSAY EXCEPTIONS, STA1EMENT OF PERSONAL OR FAMILY mSTORY . . . . . . . . . . .. 219
HEARSAY EXCEPTIONS, STA1EMENT OR 1ESTIMONY OF ClllLD ABUSE VICTIM . . . . . .. 221
HEARSAY EXCEPTIONS, STA1EMENTS IN ANCIENT DOCUMENTS .................... 225
HEARSAY EXCEPTIONS, STA1EMENTS IN DOCUMENTS AFFECTING
AN INTEREST IN PROPERTY ................................................... 227
HEARSAY EXCEPTIONS, STATEMENTS MADE FOR MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS
OR 1REATMENT .............................................................. 229
PLEA DISCUSSIONS AND RELATED STA1EMENTS,
ADMISSmll..ITY, INADMISSmll..ITY ............................................. 323
PLEAS, ADMISSmll..ITY, INADMISSmll..ITY ..........................•.............. 327
POLYGRAPH 1ESTS, ADMISSmll..ITY OF RESULTS OF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • • • . . . . . .. 329
PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS RESPECTING ADMISSmll..ITY ............................ 331
PRESENTATION OF EVIDENCE, ORDER OF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 335
PRESUMPTIONS IN CIVIL ACTIONS, GENERALLY ................................... . 337
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PRESUMPTIONS IN CIVIL ACTIONS, SPECIFIC ITEMS ................................. 341
PRIOR STATEMENTS BY WITNESS WHICH ARE NOT HEARSAY ....................... 350a
WAIVER OF EVIDENTIARY OBJECTIONS AT 1RIAL ...........••..•.................• 499
PRIOR STATEMENTS OF WITNESSES, TO IMPEACH OR SUPPORT CREDmn.ITY . . . . . . . .. 351
PRIVILEGES (GENERAL, GOVERNED BY PRINCIPLES OF COMMON LAW) . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 357
WITNESSES, CALLING AND INTERROOATION BY COURT .....•...................... 505
WITNESSES, PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED .....•.......•.•................... 509
PRIVILEGES, ACCOUNTANT-CLIENT ............................................... 359
WITNESSES, WHO MAY IMPEACH .................................................. 513
PRIVILEGES, ATTORNEY-CLIENT .................................................. 361
WORK PRODUcr DOCTRINE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . • . . • . . .. 515
PRIVILEGES, CIVll. ACTIONS AND PROCEEDINGS IN FEDERAL COURTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 371
PRIVILEGES, COMMENT UPON OR INFERENCE FROM CLAIMS OF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 373
APPENDIX A: TEXAS RULES OF CIVIL EVIDENCE. . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • • . . . . •. 521
PRIVILEGES, COMMUNICATIONS TO CLERGYMEN .................................. 375
APPENDIX B: FEDERAL RULES OF EVIDENCE .....................•.•............... 549
PRIVILEGES, EXECUTIVE ......................................................... 379
APPENDIX C: TEXAS AND FEDERAL RULES OF EVIDENCE:
PRIVILEGES, HUSBAND-WIFE ANTISPOUSAL TESTIMONY ........................... 385
COMPARISON AND DERlVATION TABLE .•.•••. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • • . . . • . .. 587
PRIVILEGES, HUSBAND-WIFE CONFIDENTIAL COMMUNICATION PRlVll.EGE . . . . . . . . .. 389
PRIVILEGES, IDENTITY OF INFORMER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 393
PRIVILEGES, MENTAL HEALTH INFORMATION ............................... . ..... 399
PRIVILEGES, NEWSMEN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 405
PRIVILEGES, PHYSICIAN-PATIENT ................................................. 407
PRIVILEGES, POLmCAL VOTE ..................................................... 413
PRIVILEGES, PRIVILEGED MATTER DISCLOSED WITHOUT
OPPORTUNITY TO CLAIM ...................................................... 415
PRIVILEGES, RECOONIZED ONLY AS PROVIDED .................................... 417
PRIVILEGES, REQUIRED REPORTS PRlVll.EGED BY STATUTE .... : ................... 419
PRIVILEGES, SELF-INCRIMINATION .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 421
PRIVILEGES, 1RADE SECRETS ..................................................... 429
PRIVILEGES, WAIVER BY VOLUNTARY DISCLOSURE ................................ 433
REAL OR DEMONSTRATIVE EVIDENCE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 435
REFRESHMENT OF MEMORY ..... . ................................................ 439
RELEVANCY,DEFINmONOF ...................................................... 443
RELEVANCY, NOT RELEVANT EVIDENCE NOT ADMISSmLE ......................... 451
RELEVANCY, RELEVANT EVIDENCE EXCLUDED ON SPECIAL GROUNDS. . . . . . . . . . . . .. 453
RELEVANCY, RELEVANT EVIDENCE GENERALLY ADMISSmLE ...................... 461
RELIGIOUS BELIEFS OR OPINIONS, TO IMPEACH OR SUPPORT
CREDmn.ITY OF WITNESS .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 463
REMAINDER OF WRITINGS OR STATEMENTS ....................................... 465
RULINGS OF EVIDENCE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 469
SEAT BELT, EVIDENCE OF USE OR NONUSE OF ..................................... 475
SUBSCRmING WITNESS, TESTIMONY OF NOT NECESSARY TO
AUTHENTICATE .............................................................. 491
SUBSEQUENT REMEDIAL MEASURES .............................................. 493
TITLE OF RULES ........................................................ : . . . . . . . .. 497
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